The landscape of international higher education and science is changing fast amid uneven geopolitics of the transforming global order. Multipolar political economy and expansion of universities and research in China, Southeast Asia, Latin America and Africa provides a strong basis for national development and collaboration on common problems, paving the way to a shared global future, but this is jeopardized by intense United States pushback against openness and cooperation, affecting science, technology and cross-border mobility.

An editorial in ECNU Review of Education explores how the COVID-19 pandemic permanently shifted the role of educational technology (EdTech) in global classrooms. It introduces eight cutting-edge studies covering EdTech's influence on language learning, student autonomy, and equity-driven design. The piece argues that EdTech’s future depends not on widespread adoption alone, but on inclusivity, critical engagement, and strong educator support.